Merckxy Christmas and Coppi New Year!

Another year come and gone, another pile of New Year’s resolutions out the door, done and dusted. It’s a good thing I don’t recall what they were; I have a feeling this period of reflection might loom a bit darker if I was in a position to appreciate just how short I’ve come up on them.

I’m spending more time with young kids these days, and the Holiday Season is an entirely different experience when viewed within their context. To begin with, at my age I hardly notice the passing of the years. This itself is a paradox; as a Cyclist we are perhaps more aware of the passing seasons than anyone else, yet the years themselves manage to slip by without notice; for a kid, one year is a significant portion of their life and each one is remembered in astonishing (if inaccurate) detail.

Personally, it’s been a mixed year for me; the highest highs offset with some low lows, but if we are to experience life’s greatest moments, we have to be willing to walk the valleys between the peaks an for certain its been the singularly greatest year in terms of personal growth. I haven’t spent as much time on Velominati and with you, the community, as I would have liked in 2016; still for 2017 we have many exciting things lurking, all thanks to you who have kept the passion flowing through the community. We laugh, we quarrel, we reconnect. This is the beauty of Cycling and the charm of you, the Velominati community.

So here’s to you, your family’s and loved ones, and to 2017. On behalf of the Keepers, we wish you a Merckxy Christmas and a Coppi New Year!

And yes, it’s time for me to make a fresh batch of Cyclist Gingerbread cookies.

About frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking.

As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it.

Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen.

RE: Riding out of the saddle on rollers. Big gear is the way to go. I’ve found a slow cadence is easiest, but with practice have moved upwards and can maintain 75ish relatively safely. Also, don’t put too much weight on your arms/front wheel. I’ve had the back start to float up on me. The benefit of this is that it also builds the supporting muscles in your glutes and core. In a 65-minute threshold session, I do 90-120 seconds standing every 10-12 minutes. This helps with the inevitable numbness in places that shouldn’t be numb…

You need to learn to ride rollers in your smallest gear spinning at 120rpm … no hands. :-)

Well, tonight’s a roller night so we’ll see how we go with both strategies!

I will occasionally do 10-20 seconds at 90-100 with no hands. 120 is begging for a trip to the ER, though…

You know you’re a cyclist when the presents which give you the most joy are Fignon’s autobiography and a new coffee maker.

Indeed. I picked up the 7-11 book, one called Wheelmen (about COTHO’s scam) and one on the hstory of the Tour (clearly written before COTHO’s fall from grace) and a charity store in Madison for $6 for all three. Merry Christmas to me! Coffee makers I have: stovetop espresson, french press and big ass coffeemaker.

What gifts, pray tell, gave you the least joy?

a freestanding fan. Essential, but boring, and a reminder of the hard work and pain on the turbo to be ready for race season.

Oh you got that right. Juan Antonio Samaranch was a pal of the Fascist dictator Franco too. He certainly turned the IOC and Olympics into the corrupt cash cow it is today.

Two words … Avery Brundage.

yeah. there is a good book about the 20th century history of US Cycling by Peter Nye called Hearts of Lions. it covers Major Taylor through Art Longsjo right up to the Borysewicz/ 7Eleven/ Lemond era. Brundage is covered throughly, although they call him Slavery Brundage. lol i can’t recommend this book highly enough for those individuals too young to remember when the USA was a laughing stock of world cycling, and how inspirational it was to see our riders start to claw back some respectability in the ’80s. Nye’s tales of the VERY lean mid 20th century years, and how it was held together reveals that Lions on bikes aren’t exclusively a Belgian deal.

Haven’t been here for a while, but with some new info that came my way thought it was time to contribute.

At our son’s wedding in Nov a cousin said ‘You knew Grandpa was a bike racer, right?” Had never heard that before — new info for me which was very intriguing. Fast forward to last week when I was helping my mother sort through boxes after a move. Found a piece of yellowed paper with a telephone number from the mid-60s scrawled on it. When I unfolded it, to my amazement , my hands held a page of letterhead for the West Side Cycling Club in Milwaukee dated in handwriting December 2, 1898.

Two people listed as officers on the letterhead had my surname, and there in pencil, written in that elegant cursive hand of the times, was a list titled “Current List of Members.” Fourteen names on the list, with 3 lined through And there, not crossed out, was my grandfather’s name! He was 21 at the time; the others with my surname were one of his older brothers and his cousin.

More penciled stuff on the page, this time numbers and a multiplication result written at an angle as though added as a afterthought to the list. It was a calculation of individual and the group’s total fee. Looks like they individually paid $6.61 — That was a chunk of money back then.

Doing my best google-fu, I found the Milwaukee Co. Historical Society web site shows the location of a box/folder with info from or about the club housed in their collection. I’m eager to get there to see if there may be any photos, race results, etc. At least I have this document; I need to check into getting it archivally framed so I can display it.

Time for more research about that time period and cycling. I do know Milwaukee was known as one of the hotbeds for the sport (and that from the cycling activity grew Milwaukee’s own Harley-Davidson, so who knows what else I’ll learn. But I do know for sure that Grandpa was a bike racer!

Haven’t been here for a while, but with some new info that came my way thought it was time to contribute.

At our son’s wedding in Nov a cousin said ‘You knew Grandpa was a bike racer, right?” Had never heard that before — new info for me which was very intriguing. Fast forward to last week when I was helping my mother sort through boxes after a move. Found a piece of yellowed paper with a telephone number from the mid-60s scrawled on it. When I unfolded it, to my amazement , my hands held a page of letterhead for the West Side Cycling Club in Milwaukee dated in handwriting December 2, 1898.

Two people listed as officers on the letterhead had my surname, and there in pencil, written in that elegant cursive hand of the times, was a list titled “Current List of Members.” Fourteen names on the list, with 3 lined through And there, not crossed out, was my grandfather’s name! He was 21 at the time; the others with my surname were one of his older brothers and his cousin.

More penciled stuff on the page, this time numbers and a multiplication result written at an angle as though added as a afterthought to the list. It was a calculation of individual and the group’s total fee. Looks like they individually paid $6.61 — That was a chunk of money back then.

Doing my best google-fu, I found the Milwaukee Co. Historical Society web site shows the location of a box/folder with info from or about the club housed in their collection. I’m eager to get there to see if there may be any photos, race results, etc. At least I have this document; I need to check into getting it archivally framed so I can display it.

Time for more research about that time period and cycling. I do know Milwaukee was known as one of the hotbeds for the sport (and that from the cycling activity grew Milwaukee’s own Harley-Davidson, so who knows what else I’ll learn. But I do know for sure that Grandpa was a bike racer!

Hey, have I missed the Anti-V Moment of the Year award? I can’t think of a standout favourite in any case…..

Nah, you haven’t missed it. Haven’t had one for a few years now. The obvious nominee IMHO is Running Man Froome.

It’s all gone a bit quiet over here recently so you haven’t missed much David… Happy New Year to you too.

I don’t know about Froome as a nominee – I thought that was pretty gutsy actually. FFS the guy is perpetually criticised as a robot, then he does something that shows intense determination to overcome a shitty problem not of his own making and that’s also a bad thing?

My nomination would be John Degenkolb at the World Championships, spraying his water bottle over a Belgian rider who was refusing to help chase down the break which included his team-mate. Petulant piece of stupidity.

Having said that the UCI and Qatar could get a meta-nomination for putting the World Championships in Doha in the first place, and then Qatar quietly cancelling the Tour of Qatar and pulling out of all cycling, even lower-level events.

There’s also that tosser smashing his bike at the Red Hook criterium – Jeremy whats-his-face.

Froome anti V? No way – his mad downhill descent, his two man breakaway, and the run? Plenty of V shown.

Actually, for me its the UCI. Good call ChrisO. Qatar and the change to the omnium seals it for me. A far better writer than I wrote that once sport follows the money to the detriment, or compromise, of the actual sport then it’s fundamentally doomed in the long run.

Folks, on a serious note and I’m not sure if qualifies under the spirit of anti-v (?) if is meant to be a little more light hearted or assigned to a person but the issues this past year with race mottos and safety are just not cool at all. Incidents with Antoine Demoite’ and Stig Broeckx are terrible reminders. Is this a more frequent modern times occurrence or just a perception I have?

Froome? I loved his tour this past year and the running man. Degenkolb? I can’t even assign the cool Degencobbles nickname after the WC. Petulant is good descriptor. Doha local for world champs and UCI ? Agree. But I would probably think same if was in China too.

Froome anti V? No way – his mad downhill descent, his two man breakaway, and the run? Plenty of V shown.

Actually, for me its the UCI. Good call ChrisO. Qatar and the change to the omnium seals it for me. A far better writer than I wrote that once sport follows the money to the detriment, or compromise, of the actual sport then it’s fundamentally doomed in the long run.

do y’all think Froome is dirty? maybe i’m naive, but i think it’s possible he’s clean. it’s all about power to weight for a GC rider, no? look at the guy.. Froome looks like he was raised in Darfur, not South Africa.

do y’all think Froome is dirty? maybe i’m naive, but i think it’s possible he’s clean. it’s all about power to weight for a GC rider, no? look at the guy.. Froome looks like he was raised in Darfur, not South Africa.

I’m pretty sure as he’s clean, and also that he’s a physiological freak who trains super hard, and super smart.

Anti-V moment – was the thing with the motor in the CX bike this year?

do y’all think Froome is dirty? maybe i’m naive, but i think it’s possible he’s clean. it’s all about power to weight for a GC rider, no? look at the guy.. Froome looks like he was raised in Darfur, not South Africa.

I wouldn’t bet my house on any of them being clean, but I believe in Froome as much anyone. That said I believed in Wiggins too, and whilst I don’t believe he used EPO etc, as far as I’m concerned the medication taken prior to the 2012 Tour WAS cheating, even if it was “legal”.

do y’all think Froome is dirty? maybe i’m naive, but i think it’s possible he’s clean. it’s all about power to weight for a GC rider, no? look at the guy.. Froome looks like he was raised in Darfur, not South Africa.

I wouldn’t bet my house on any of them being clean, but I believe in Froome as much anyone. That said I believed in Wiggins too, and whilst I don’t believe he used EPO etc, as far as I’m concerned the medication taken prior to the 2012 Tour WAS cheating, even if it was “legal”.

Re Wiggins. Yes – I think another rider put it like this (paraphrasing). “He was 5% down, got the TUEs signed off, ended up 5% up”. So Legal, but……

Still, he’s a legend as far as I’m concerned, and so happy to have been in Ghent to see him and Cav win the 6 day. What a night that was!

What about V Moment of the year? I’m going to ignore Froome and offer 3 for initial consideration:

1. Sagan riding away from everyone to win the Ronde

2. Steve Cummings TDF Stage Win

3. Sagan retaining the rainbow bands

Matty Haymen winning P-R and Boonen being such a class act at the awards ceremony?

(all of your suggestions are great as well)

Yeah, I loved that – the vid of how amazed and elated Haymen was afterwards was beautiful.

I also liked Stannard’s solo stage win in the Tour of Britain. He’s my hero, nice to see him take the glory for once.

Right! Just loved that video with his disbelief at the end and his saying, “This doesn’t happen?” and his Mate saying, “It does today to you!”

Literally choked me up watching that.

And then seeing Boonen looking up at Haymen on the podium from the lower step and being such a good sport even though you just have to know that it KILLED him not winning his fifth, esp in that final group.

What about V Moment of the year? I’m going to ignore Froome and offer 3 for initial consideration:

1. Sagan riding away from everyone to win the Ronde

2. Steve Cummings TDF Stage Win

3. Sagan retaining the rainbow bands

Matty Haymen winning P-R and Boonen being such a class act at the awards ceremony?

(all of your suggestions are great as well)

Yeah, I loved that – the vid of how amazed and elated Haymen was afterwards was beautiful.

I also liked Stannard’s solo stage win in the Tour of Britain. He’s my hero, nice to see him take the glory for once.

Right! Just loved that video with his disbelief at the end and his saying, “This doesn’t happen?” and his Mate saying, “It does today to you!”

Literally choked me up watching that.

And then seeing Boonen looking up at Haymen on the podium from the lower step and being such a good sport even though you just have to know that it KILLED him not winning his fifth, esp in that final group.

do y’all think Froome is dirty? maybe i’m naive, but i think it’s possible he’s clean. it’s all about power to weight for a GC rider, no? look at the guy.. Froome looks like he was raised in Darfur, not South Africa.

I wouldn’t bet my house on any of them being clean, but I believe in Froome as much anyone. That said I believed in Wiggins too, and whilst I don’t believe he used EPO etc, as far as I’m concerned the medication taken prior to the 2012 Tour WAS cheating, even if it was “legal”.

do y’all think Froome is dirty? maybe i’m naive, but i think it’s possible he’s clean. it’s all about power to weight for a GC rider, no? look at the guy.. Froome looks like he was raised in Darfur, not South Africa.

I wouldn’t bet my house on any of them being clean, but I believe in Froome as much anyone. That said I believed in Wiggins too, and whilst I don’t believe he used EPO etc, as far as I’m concerned the medication taken prior to the 2012 Tour WAS cheating, even if it was “legal”.

that’s pretty interesting. of all Froome’s wild performances of the last few years, the one that really made me take notice was his breakaway with Sagan and Geraint Thomas last year. flatland power is not the same as mountain power. i was very impressed that he went off the front with those animals.

do y’all think Froome is dirty? maybe i’m naive, but i think it’s possible he’s clean. it’s all about power to weight for a GC rider, no? look at the guy.. Froome looks like he was raised in Darfur, not South Africa.

I wouldn’t bet my house on any of them being clean, but I believe in Froome as much anyone. That said I believed in Wiggins too, and whilst I don’t believe he used EPO etc, as far as I’m concerned the medication taken prior to the 2012 Tour WAS cheating, even if it was “legal”.

that’s pretty interesting. of all Froome’s wild performances of the last few years, the one that really made me take notice was his breakaway with Sagan and Geraint Thomas last year. flatland power is not the same as mountain power. i was very impressed that he went off the front with those animals.

That was impressive but as I recall that break Thomas buried himself as did Sagan’s team mate who was also in the group. When it came time to sprint, Sagan easily distanced Froomey even though the latter got the jump on him.

I’ll go with the Hayman if Tommeke gets an honorable mention. Boonen and Vos are two of my favorites because a) I believe they’re clean, b) they ride with panache, and c) when they lose they are 100% class acts in giving the victor the respect they deserve. No pouting on the podium.